Do You Really Need to Reapply Sunscreen Every 2 Hours? Why UPF Clothing Might Be Your Summer Shortcut

When it comes to safe sun habits, the best thing that you can do for yourself is to create a strategy and stick to it. While we know that it’s essential to be diligent with your sunscreen year round, clothing is the most reliable option for UV protection, especially during the busy summer months. It requires no reapplication, provides consistent coverage, and you can look cute while doing it. So let’s learn a little about UPF, shall we?

How does UPF differ from SPF?

UPF measures the amount of UV radiation that can penetrate fabric and reach your skin. Sun Protection Factor, or SPF, is based on the time it takes for UV-exposed skin to redden. Another important distinction: UPF measures both UVB and UVA rays, while SPF measures only UVB. This is why it’s important to search for UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection in a sunscreen.

Factors that affect UPF rating in clothing: (Source: Skin Cancer Foundation – Sun Protective Clothing)

• Color: Dark or bright colors keep UV rays from reaching your skin by absorbing them rather than allowing them to penetrate. That’s why these colors offer better protection than lighter shades.
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• Construction: Densely woven cloth, like denim, canvas, wool or synthetic fibers, are more protective than sheer, thin or loosely woven cloth. Check a fabric’s sun safety by holding it up to the light. If you can see through, UV radiation can easily penetrate the fabric and reach your skin.
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• Content: The composition of your fabric really matters. Fabrics that have the highest UPF 50+ rating are lycra/elastanes, plastic, and nylon while polyester and cotton provide less consistent UPF.
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• Fit: Loose-fitting apparel is preferable. Tight clothing can stretch and reduce the level of protection offered, as the fibers pull away from each other and allow more UV light to pass through.
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• UPF: Some clothing makers provide UPF labels, which indicate exactly how much of the sun’s rays the garment can shield.
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• Coverage: The more skin your outfit covers, the better your protection. Whenever possible, choose long-sleeved shirts and long pants or skirts.
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• Activity: Regardless of UPF, if your clothing gets stretched or wet, it will lose some of its protective ability and become more transparent, exposing your skin to more UV light.
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UPF hats and shields

Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are the most common form of skin cancer, accounting for about 90 percent of all skin cancers, and often appear on the head and neck. Wide brimmed hats and sun shields help to protect your scalp and face from dangerous UV rays. As with clothing, not all hats and UV visors are created equally. Be sure to search for hats that are wide brimmed, tightly woven, and shields that offer adequate UV protection.

• Wide brim: The best hats for sun protection have a brim of at least four inches to shade the face, scalp, neck, shoulders, upper back, tops of the ears and back of the neck. We recommend 9 inches for full face coverage.
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• Tight knit: Look for a tightly woven hat rather than a loosely constructed straw hat that lets in the UV radiation. 
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One of my all time favorite options for protecting my face year round is a Bluestone Sun Shield. These visors block 99% of UVA/UVB rays and are a non-negotiable for my clients doing services that require downtime or following treatments that don’t allow sunscreen to be applied immediately after, such as microneedling. They cover your whole face, keep your skin cool, and are shaded which offers privacy and essentially feels like wearing sunglasses for your whole face. They’re an easy, foolproof way to protect yourself whether you’re taking a walk, driving, or keeping your skin safe post-treatment. Bonus points for getting to look like a cute, outer space alien babe while doing it.